venugopal, I read through the text and I didn't anythng objectionable vis-a-vis religion and religious practices.
Whatever the be the "text", I think the way in which the "text" is read in the class may have some influence on the minds of the young ( am reminded of an essay by Stanley Fish (Reader-reception Theory), "is there a text in the class"----- oops, sorry, I was told not to mention names of any theorist and thinker by an influential person) But after I responded to a similar subject in a group discussion, I was "misssing' soemthing. It is this... In a multi-religious or interreligious society, how to frame a 'curriculum' is a sensitive issue. Few secularists and a few rationalist cannot sittogether and decide the curriculum and also the text book. Let me also say that I dont about the clerical and methodological procedures regarding the constitution and composition of committe and the conditon for the states to follow national curriculum framework etc. (let someone who knows this may enlighten) One more point: we need also to closely look at how media treated this issue. thats for now regards damodar On 6/25/08, Venugopalan K M <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > There's a controversy going on in Kerala in relation to a text book > lesson in Malayalam for 7th std ,State syllabus:- > Let me narrate the content here: > Jeevan is taken to school for enroling in the 1st std by his parents > of two different religions.The Head Master asks Jeevan's parents which > religion is to be entered for the boy. Jeevan's parents request for > leaving the column (related to religion and caste ) blank, which > prompts the HM to ask what would happen to the child as he grows up > without religion/caste appended to his identity. The parents coolly > reply that as he grows up he could chose any of the faiths or no > faith! > This has become a cause for much ire being vent by the parties and > students' unions in the rival camp ,on the Left Democratic Front > govt.in Kerala. The opponents demand withdrawal of the lesson > promoting atheism and anti-religious mentality and even communism!!?? > Though the above text (lesson )appears to be the main focus in the > controversy,much more text portions elsewhere from the current school > texts are being brought under fire by the opposition parties and > student unions. > One thing that significantly eludes focus in the current political > warfare between the two fronts, ie; the LDF, led by the CPI(M) and the > UDF( comprising Congress, Muslim League, Kerala Congress,etc )is that > Caste plus Religion plus most of the Superstitions like jaatakams, > pujas and rituals are seen publicly glorified and practiced everywhere > in Kerala by leaders as well as cadres on both sides of the divide. > Hence,the ideals of secularism that are sought to be promoted in young > minds, unfortunately , do not really match the realms of both the > public and private spheres largely influenced by the left parties > here. > At least as seen contradicted from the point of view of the dismal > track record of many a left politician in promoting real secularism in > private and public life, the present controversy on the text book > portions will not take us the society too far. > The contradictions resulting from promotion of unilateral learning of > ideals by rote without a thought of accentuating them in real lives on > the one hand, and resisting even marginal struggles for social reform > ( the negative attitudes by and large displayed against intercaste > marriages, struggles against casteism etc, for example) on the other, > has come to the fore ,with the present controversy over the above > text. In this aspect, perhaps this can signify a fair deal of self > reflectivity on the part of the 'big' people in the Left > > . > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
